Epilogue

Six months later

“It’s beautiful up here.” Tess watched in awe as they hung a left off Tweed Boulevard and were quickly surrounded on both sides by thick forest. “It’s the perfect place for the Canine Haven.”

“That’s why Katrina chose this spot,” Jesse said from the back seat. “I love comin’ here.”

She sighed, never imagining things would have worked out as wonderfully as they had.

After Harley’s attempted bombing, the remaining sovereign citizens involved in the conspiracy had been rounded up. Pritchard, Ruffalo, and the other others had already pleaded guilty. Not even Charles Fenway—the Excelsior Hotel’s assistant manager—had escaped. He’d been pulled over by a state trooper halfway down the New Jersey Turnpike.

Most importantly, there was Eric. She squeezed his hand, and he sent her a quick wink that never failed to send delicious tingles to all the right places of her body.

She and Jesse had officially moved into Eric’s house. They’d compromised on the new carpet she and Eric had once made love on and settled on a rich cream color. As for the rest of the house, there were flowers and crystals and candles everywhere. It was a work in progress. Baby steps. Lots of baby steps.

He rested his big hand on her thigh. “Are you excited?”

“Very.” Actually, her anticipation was soaring. She was finally going to get a dog. Her own dog. Of course, Tiger had to approve. “Just look at all of them!” She clapped her hands in delight as they drove past fenced-in areas with dozens of dogs.

“Hey, get off me!” Jesse shouted.

She twisted in the seat to look behind her and laughed. Tiger was now partially standing on her brother’s lap, his head erect as he took in all the rescue dogs romping in the newly fallen snow blanketing the ground.

Jesse and Tiger were best buds now. Her brother had fully recovered from his appendectomy, and Eric was helping to lay the groundwork for him to pursue his dream. During the week, Jesse attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and worked weekends at the Canine Haven, a no-kill rescue dog facility in Rockland County, New York.

The drive to the Haven was over an hour, but Jesse’s boss—Katrina Vandenburg—had graciously given him his own accommodations on weekends. On the one hand, she missed her brother terribly for those two days, but there were some definite perks to having Eric all to herself. In fact, she couldn’t wait to get home and take advantage of one perk in particular. In their massive king-size bed, or in the shower, or on their brand-new living room carpet. Again.

They parked next to Dayne’s K-9 SUV. “What’s Dayne doing here?”

Eric shut off the engine and grabbed a small plastic case from the console. “I need to return a piece of equipment I borrowed from him. He caught a case in this area, so we arranged to meet here.”

By the time she’d zipped up her jacket, Dayne was at the passenger door, opening it for her. The sounds of dogs barking—little dogs, big dogs, and every size in between—came at them from all directions, ratcheting her excitement up another notch.

“Hi, Dayne.” She enveloped him in her own version of a bear hug and gave his waist a good squeeze. In the months since the near-bombing, they’d barely seen him, and she missed having the big lug around. He was still the darkly brooding man she’d first met, but there were also fleeting moments when she’d glimpsed another side of him. The side he kept hidden most of the time.

“Hey, Red,” he said, calling her by the same nickname Nick used, then giving her one of his rare smiles.

Something he should do more often.

Since the night at the ATF office when they’d had their heart-to-heart, she’d known he experienced something mysterious and unpleasant in his past, but he’d never expounded on it. Whatever it was.

He released her to shake hands with Eric. “You’re looking good, my man. Cohabitation agrees with you.”

Eric handed Dayne the plastic case, then looped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. “That it does.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, a cute little thing he was doing more and more often, and she loved it.

“Dayne, you wanna help us pick out a girlfriend for Tiger?” Jesse tightened up Tiger’s leash while the dog pranced in place, clearly eager to investigate all the dog smells. “Katrina and I already picked one out, but Tess and Tiger have final say.”

“Sure. Why not?” From his surly tone, Tess was certain he had a hundred reasons why he didn’t want to go inside. Stoic that he was, he didn’t voice them.

“I can’t wait any longer.” She began dragging Eric to the front door, avoiding a giant mud puddle on the dirt walkway. “Let’s do this.”

When Eric opened the door, the first sight that greeted her was entirely not what she expected.

A stunning, willowy woman in a glittery silver strapless evening gown walked—no, glided—toward them. Draped around her neck and dangling from her ears were the most beautiful jewels she’d ever seen. Diamonds. A symbol of inner peace, strength and courage. Not exactly the rose quartz she preferred, but to each her own.

“You must be Tess.” The woman extended her hand. “I’m Katrina Vandenberg. Jesse’s told me so much about you. I feel as if I know you already, but it’s nice to finally meet in person.”

“My pleasure.” Tess couldn’t stop staring at Katrina’s eyes. Are they…amethyst? She had to be wearing colored contacts. No one’s eyes looked that way naturally. “Thank you so much for giving Jesse this incredible opportunity.”

“He’s a doll.” When Katrina smiled at her brother, he blushed.

Beside Jesse, Dayne’s eyes narrowed to slits, and there was no mistaking the disdain in his eyes.

What is that about? Was she missing something?

“Good to see you again.” Eric shook hands with Katrina.

“You as well.” She flipped her long, thick mane of dark hair from her bare shoulders, making the diamond rings on her fingers sparkle.

“This must be the famous Tiger.” She patted Tiger’s head. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said to Dayne.

“Dayne,” he practically snarled. “Just Dayne.”

“Well, Mister Just Dayne. Welcome to the Canine Haven.” Katrina’s flawless congeniality didn’t waver, although Tess noticed she didn’t extend her hand to Dayne, as if she’d picked up on his frostiness. “But I know you didn’t come here to see me.” She winked at Tess. “Nancy?” she called out over her shoulder.

A stocky young woman came through one of the doors, leading out the prettiest dog Tess had ever seen. The dog’s fluffy black and white tail wagged, and Tess dropped to her knees, clasping the animal’s smiling, furry face.

“She’s a two-year-old Australian sheepdog-shepherd mix.” Katrina unhooked the leash. “Her name’s Rosie.”

“Rosie. That’s a perfect name.” Tess gazed into Rosie’s eyes—one white, one blue. The dog nuzzled her face, making happy whimpering sounds. That was all it took, and Tess knew.

This is my dog.

Woof. Tiger strained at the leash, his black nostrils flaring as he scented the pretty female.

“You can let him go, Jesse,” Katrina said.

The second Jesse unhooked Tiger’s leash he trotted to Rosie. Tess backed off to give the dogs space.

Aside from the stiff wag of his tail straight in the air, Tiger stood absolutely still while Rosie “inspected” him.

Eric laughed. “She’s trying to decide if he’s the stud for her.”

“I can’t say I blame her.” She winked at Eric. When he winked back, her heart fluttered.

After one particularly close sniff, Rosie let out a sharp yip that Tiger returned in a deeper tone. Both dogs pranced and pirouetted around the vestibule, sniffing each other and making more yipping sounds.

“I’d say we have a winner.” Eric grinned.

“Excellent.” Katrina clasped her hands together. “I apologize, I have to get to an event in Westchester, but Nancy will help you with the paperwork.” She gathered up a white shawl resting on a table by the door.

“Careful out there, it’s muddy,” Dayne said. “You wouldn’t want to get your diamonds dirty.”

Katrina froze.

Having known her for a grand total of five minutes, Tess didn’t know for certain but could swear the other woman’s eyes flashed with genuine hurt.

“Thank you for your concern, Mister Just Dayne.” Katrina whipped the wrap around her shoulders, the fringe of which nearly caught Dayne in the face. “I’ll be certain to tiptoe around the puddles. Lovely to meet you all.” A moment later, she was out the door.

“Dayne!” Tess swatted his shoulder. “What’s gotten into you? Do you know her?”

“No.” His gaze trailed Katrina as she stepped into a white limousine that had pulled up while they’d been inside. “But I’ve known people like her. I’ve gotta go.” He leaned down to give her a quick hug. “Later, man,” he said to Eric then barreled out the door.

“Happy?” Eric slid his arms around her waist then tipped his head to where Rosie and Tiger were happily nuzzling each other.

“Very.” She smiled up at him. “But, am I missing something? What just happened with Dayne?”

He shrugged. “Dayne’s got…issues. Don’t let it bother you. At least, not today. We have another stop to make on the way home.”

Home. She really did love the sound of that, and now they had a new addition to their family. A beautiful rescue dog of her very own.

…

Eric tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. He adjusted the volume of the radio. Next, he turned the heat down. Anything to keep himself occupied.

He was nervous. More than he’d been disarming his first mock bomb at FLETC or getting his first search warrant signed by a judge.

After filling out the requisite paperwork at the Haven, they’d flipped down the rear seats of the Tahoe to give the dogs more room, then said their goodbyes to Jesse and driven off. The closer they got to Flemington, the faster he tapped his fingers and the more he fidgeted with the radio stations. Luckily, Tess didn’t seem to notice, what with being thoroughly smitten by Rosie, who kept trying to climb over the front seat to sit in her lap.

Finally, he parked in front of the old Victorian on the corner and let out a nervous breath.

“What are we doing here?” Tess gave him a quizzical look.

“C’mon.” He opened his door. “Let’s get the dogs.”

“Ookay.”

His palms were sweating, and his heart raced. He and Tess had gotten closer over the last six months, but there was always the chance he was wrong about where things were going. His gut told him he was on track, but he wouldn’t be the first guy on the planet to get it wrong.

He came around to her side of the Tahoe and helped her leash up Tiger and Rosie.

Tess had been through a lot since shooting her stepfather, and he couldn’t shake the niggling feeling in the pit of his stomach that it was too soon for what he had planned.

“That’s so sad.” She looked at the empty store with the Sold sign on the window. “I loved this place. It was my favorite shop in the whole town. The woman who owned it said she didn’t know what the new owner had planned for it.”

“Yeah. Sad.” The forlorn expression on her face should have made him feel bad. It didn’t. Oh, yeah. I definitely got this one right.

“What are you grinning at?” She twisted her lips into the smile he’d come to adore.

“You. I can’t help it.” His smile widened and his heart slammed against his ribs, but this time… It’s all good.

“Let’s go.” He clasped her hand, leading her and the dogs to the front door of the shop.

“What are we doing?” she asked as he pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. The antique bells jangled as he pushed it open. “Why do you have a key for this place?”

Ignoring her questions, he shut the door behind them then unhooked the dogs’ leashes. Tiger and Rosie’s nails clicked on the old wooden floor as they began meandering down the aisle.

“Eric?” Her eyes were wide and questioning. “Did we just break in here? I know you’re a federal agent, but the new owner can have us charged with trespassing.”

“Trust me. She won’t.” He handed her the key. “You’re the new owner.”

“What?” Her mouth fell open and stayed that way, and damned if she didn’t look even more adorable, all dumbfounded and speechless for the first time since he’d known her.

“I bought it.” He took her hands in his. “For you.”

“For me?” She began shaking her head, clearly not catching on. “I-I don’t understand. Why?”

“Why?” He laughed. “Because, I love you. I love you so much I can’t wait to fall asleep with you in my arms every night and wake up every morning the same way. I look forward to coming home and seeing you dancing in the kitchen or doing your crazy yoga thing. I love everything about you, and I want to make you happy.” He swept his arm out, encompassing the empty store. “Does this make you happy?”

“No,” she whispered.

“No?” Now, his eyes went wide. “No?” he repeated. How did I get this wrong?

“No,” she repeated, more firmly this time. “You make me happy. But this”—her eyes took in the shop—“is amazing. I can’t believe you did this. I’m a shop owner! Oh, Eric. Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you.” She threw her arms around his neck and began kissing every square inch of his face, making him laugh.

The dogs came running to see what the commotion was about, circling them and barking.

“I can’t believe you did this.” She gazed up at him and he fell in love all over again.

“I’d do anything for you.” He set her on her feet, then grabbed her hand and led her to the cashier’s counter. “There’s a little office upstairs and a small yard out back for Rosie, so she can be with you during the day. You can sell anything you like in here. Candles, scarves, incense, yoga mats…pink thongs.” He waggled his eyebrows. “The previous owner had already sold most of her stock by the time we closed on the place, but I managed to snag one thing.” He pointed to the yellow-and-cream Stangl sugar bowl he’d left on the counter.

“Oh! The blueberry pattern. I love it!” She cradled the sugar bowl in her hands, gazing at it like it was a pot of gold.

“Open it.” He watched every nuance of her face for reaction. The waiting was killing him. The only thing keeping him grounded was Tiger, who’d come to stand beside him in a show of support. Rosie stood by Tess, looking up at her with adoration.

Carefully, she lifted the lid then reached inside and gasped.

It’s now or never, Miller.

He got down on one knee. Rosie moved to his other side, adding her moral support to the mix.

“Tess.” The emotion welling up inside him clogged his throat to the point where he could barely speak. “Will you marry me?” He held his breath.

Tears filled her eyes. A second ticked by without her answering, then another and another, making his heart tighten painfully. She nodded, slowly at first, then more emphatically. “Yes. I’ll marry you. Of course, I’ll marry you.”

He blew out a shaky breath then rose to take the sugar bowl from her trembling hands and set it back on the counter. His own hands were shaking as he plucked the ring from her fingers and slid it on her left hand. A marquis diamond flanked by two pieces of rose quartz he’d had specially cut into gemstones.

“A diamond, for strength and courage.” He kissed her hand. “Rose quartz. For positive energy and unconditional love.”

“You remembered,” she whispered.

“Of course I did.” He tipped up her chin and gave her the slowest, sweetest kiss, vowing to make her happy for the rest of his life. How could I not?

They were interconnected. Seemingly contrary forces, yet complementary and forever inseparable.

She was, in every way, the yin to his yang.

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